Warwickshire Police claimed there is 'not enough evidence' to prosecute members of the Atherstone Hunt following the incident last year - despite gruesome footage
COPS have said "no action" will be taken against members of a hunt that ripped a fox apart by hounds - despite video footage showing the gruesome kill.
Warwickshire Police claimed there is "not enough evidence" to prosecute members of the Atherstone Hunt following the incident last year - even though the hunt itself ADMITTED the fox was killed.
The two-and-a-half minute clip shows the pack of around 20 dogs chasing the animal across a field followed by three hunters on horseback at Fields Farm in Grendon, Warks.
One of the hounds appears to catch up with the fox, tackling it to the ground, before the rest of the dogs attack.
The hunters, dressed in traditional red coats and black riding hats, dismount near the fox - pulling its limp body away from the hounds.
A man then slings it over the back of a fellow member's horse before riding away with the dogs in tow.
Then, an angry hunt saboteur matches across the field and shouts at the retreating hunters, who ignore the slurs.
A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police said: "Following an investigation, the decision has been made that there is insufficient evidence to support a realistic prospect of a conviction in relation to any hunting offences connected to the Atherstone Hunt in Warwickshire."
Since 2005 it has been illegal to hunt foxes with dogs.
The maximum penalty is a £5,000 fine while police can also confiscate and destroy equipment and dogs used in hunting.
A statement released by Atherstone Hunt at the time of the incident read: "Unfortunately while riding across an open field between trails, what we strongly suspect was an injured fox appeared in front of the Hunt within yards of the hounds who very quickly dispatched it.
"The incident was immediately reported to Warwickshire Police."
A spokesman for West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs said at the time: "The Atherstone Hunt killed a fox.
"Sabs saw the fox being chased closely by hounds, it stopped and looked to its left and then to its right and saw there was no escape.
"There were hounds either side of it, they caught it, dragged it to the floor and killed it. The rest of the pack were trying to get at it.
"It's shocking, distressing and absolutely horrific.
"We have been submitting footage for weeks showing they're hunting and nothing was being done - this was inevitable.
"It has been reported to Warwickshire Police and they need to take action. This is not just a one off.
"I have no doubt the hunt will say it is an accident, but it can't be an accident if it's happening every week.
"They are blatantly hunting."
